U.S. must not let China influence foreign relations

Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian is neither a terrorist nor a criminal but a democratically elected leader. His country has long been a very important U.S. trading partner and political ally that embraces the same American value of freedom, democracy and human rights. At the least, the United States should have allowed him and his delegation a dignified and respectable stopover in other major U.S. cities, if not New York or San Francisco as requested ("U.S. refuses to let Taiwan's president make overnight stay," May 4).

Apparently China is taking advantage of complicated international situations involving Iran and leveraging its possible influence with this terrorist country in pressuring the U.S. to snub Chen's transit request. Comparing this disgraceful treatment of Chen to the red carpet we rolled out for the unelected dictator Chinese President Hu Jintao, clearly our foreign policy is ineffective in upholding our national value of democratic freedom.

It is not likely that this snub of Taiwan's president will persuade China to give up its self-interest and help bring about any breakthrough on the Iran issue. What's even more alarming is that our government is willing to kowtow to communist China for short-term convenience while forsaking the pillars of our foreign policy and President Bush's own pledge and commitment to stand by democratic leaders around the world.

Grace Tseng
New Berlin